The sun. [volume] (Morris, Stevens County, Minn.) 1882-1895, 1887-10-20
SAVED BY A JACK.
A story OF the Plains
BY FRANK w. cALKrNs.

BY FRANK w. CALKINs.
One hot evening in the summer of
1877. the writer. with three other young
men. was camped out on the bank of
the South Platte river, some 80 miles
above the little station of Julesburgh.
We had embarrassed the horses from
our big wagon and picketed them out
to feed near the high stockade of a
sol tary ranch station. Over the top
Of the stockade posts the grass-grown
roofs of several adobe cabins were visi-
bic. On the roof of one of these q
half grown antelope kid was industri-
ously cropping the herbage. and by its
side lay another, serenley asleep. its
head thrown back over its shoulder.
Beyond the stockade and adjoining
it, was another inclosure of several
acres, surrounded by high board
fence; a large stock corral. in fac. in
which several ponies were standing,
lazily whisking away the flies, evidently
too much overcome by the flies to
make any further exertion. These and
the antelopes were the only signs of life
about the place.
.Guess this ranch takes care of it
SELF" remarked one of our party, who
ut that moment was attending to q
skillet of venison steak over fire of
dry drift sticks, which he had picked
up on the banks of the river. Guess
old Cliff would stir up these fellows. if
he knew they all went off'n left the
house with couple of tame antelopes
for guard.
On the first hating for the night we
had ratified at the gate of the stockade.
in the hope that we might be let in and
given chance for fresh water at the
well; but the gate was barred inside.
and the place was apparently deserted.
We rather wondered at that, for we
had heard of this ranch, and knew it
to be one of the Cattle King" Cliffs
out-post-a ground up point for the
great range over which his thousands
of cattle fed. winter and summer. But
as we sat down to our supper of bis
cults, steak, canned tomatoes, and
coffee we heard the big gate of the
stockade squeak on its hinges. and a
moment later there sauntered out to us
tall, strapping young fellow in wool
en- shirt and buekskin leggins. He had
on his head a wide brimmed. white
wool kat with a red leather band, and
on his feet high-topped. high-heeled
boots, at the counters of which jingled
pair of Spanish spurs.
There was also pair of big 'Colt's"
In his belt. His wooden shirt was open
in front, the sleeves were rolled up to
the elbow and the deep tan-color of his
arms matched we'll the bronze of the
breast, neck and face. He had the
biggest and fiercest of black moustach-
es and pair of sharp black eyes to
match it.
A remarkable figure, perhaps the
reader may think, but one that with
some modification of form or feature,
will soon grow familiar to the camper
in the seattle country"
.Hullo," feilers - said this specimen
COWBOY, as he came up and leaned his
elbow upon the hind wheels of our
wagon.
"Hullo," said we; and then, in the
short, suggestive parlance of the coun-
try, we asked. Eat ?''
You betr' was the cheerful rejoind-
er, and the stockman flung himself
down into the circle about our oilcloth.
and was helped to pint cup of coffee
and some tomatoes, and helped himself
literally to biscuit and fried antelope.
''Got nothin' but cold grub in the
the ranch" he explained between
mouthfuls. SAN it's too mighty hot to
makes fires now. Nobody here but me
boys gone up on Lodge Pold to run in
the strays. BEN asleep all the after.
noon Ratified the gate did ye? Wall,
now, must be snoozer! Curis what
risks man'll take in this country,
Now, here's you fellows trailin' abou
all alone. the four of We. and me here
a-sleepin' alone, in a 'dobe, an si1
hundred Cheyennes turned loose or
the country above"
Fact" he said, cody, noticing ou1
looks of surprise. not unmixed witt
alarm. Eyes. sir; runner come dowr
from the ranch above an warned me-
Yesterday. They've Quilted one ranct
up there, killed cowman an run off /,
lot O. stock; expect 'em down here any
time. A lot of 'em come down her,
last year and caught us snoozin,' RICH
in broad day noon, too"
The reader may be sure we were no
little alarmed at such news. though
we hardly knew whether to credit tn
fellows word or not.
He might be trying on the cowboy
and miners favorite pastime-that o
"stufflng." or frightening, ''tenderfeet,
but he gave us further particulars in al
honest. NATTER f-fact way. and afte
supper invited us to haul our wagon in
side the stock corral. and to spend tn
night with him in one of the adobes
So we concluded at length that he wa
acting-as, indeed. afterward prove
to he the fact-in good faith.
Having accepted his invitation to
shelter for the night, we were soon es
tablished in one of the long, coo
adobes.
Our horses had been picketed a
close to the stockade as the grain
limit would allow.
You'll have to take the resk on tn
stock, in course" said Briggs-he ha
given us his name in the course OF on
conversation. 1--WE all have to tax
them resks, but reckon there's n
danger to yerselves in here. Th
Il